Covid Inquiry Urges Payout Boost for Vaccine Deaths

A recent Covid-19 Inquiry report has put forward recommendations to increase compensation for families who have lost loved ones due to vaccine side effects. The current one-off tax-free payment of £120,000, established under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), has not been adjusted since 2007. If this payment were updated to reflect inflation, it would now exceed £200,000.

Kam Miller, whose husband Neil died in May 2021 from vaccine-induced immune thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following the AstraZeneca vaccine, has been a vocal advocate for these changes. She highlighted that Neil was the family's main breadwinner, emphasizing the need for adequate financial support. Miller expressed relief that bereaved families are being listened to after a prolonged period of struggle.

Further recommendations from the inquiry include a yearly adjustment of payments to keep pace with inflation. Additionally, the report suggests implementing multiple payment tiers to correspond with the degree of injury sustained. Solicitors representing affected families have noted that these recommendations signify a "real recognition" of their clients' trauma, though they await concrete government action.

The government has stated it will review the report's findings and provide a response in due course, affirming its commitment to learning lessons from the pandemic to enhance future preparedness.